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Wildland Firefighter Project


COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Fires have captivated and enchanted us throughout human history and are an important component of our ecosystem, but natural fires have been suppressed for over 100 years creating an unhealthy balance in the ecosystem. Fire suppression has allowed invasive and non-native plants the opportunity to flourish and dangerous fuel loads to accumulate. The Wildland Firefighter Project is designed for adventurous high school students who want to learn more about fire ecology and wildfire behavior, receive wildland firefighter training, practice firefighter survival techniques, and learn more about the controversy surrounding wildfire management. During this course we will also complete much needed wildfire mitigation projects to minimize the fire danger of the Upper Arkansas Valley working closely with the Colorado Firecamp, a wildland firefighter school in Salida, Colorado.

Maxwell(Photo courtesy of Colorado Firecamp) In addition to learning about wildfires we will spend the week practicing essential camping and wilderness survival skills, including water location, natural shelters, primitive and modern fire methods, and rescue techniques. As we develop our backcountry skills, we will learn how to minimize our impact in the natural world and discuss ways to reduce our environmental footprint at home. While our days will be action packed, there will be plenty of time in the evenings for relaxing around the fire, hanging out, and philosophizing. You will be able to work on projects at your own pace, so make this experience as mild or as wild as you want. Spaces for this course are limited and fill up early so register today!

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

COURSE ITINERARY:

Firetree1wf1Day 1 – And We’re Off: The first day we will meet together at a central location in Boulder, Colorado, check equipment and travel to the Upper Arkansas Valley outside of Buena Vista, Colorado. We will set up our minimum impact base camp at and get to know each other as we begin to learn about the history and ecology of the area and awaken our awareness skills.


Firefightergear3wf1Day 2 - 3: Fire Ecology, Firefighting Training, Introduction to Wilderness Survival: We will meet up with instructors from the Colorado Firecamp to learn about fire ecology and fire behavior. We will go on day hikes to analyze the terrain, weather, and fuel load to learn more about wildfires. We will also participate in firefighter training techniques including decision making, scenarios, principles of the fire line, and firefighter rescue techniques. In the afternoon, we will begin to practice wilderness survival skills including survival scenarios and survival kits. In the evenings we will have time to relax and philosophize around the fire.

Servicework3wf1Day 4 - 5 - Action Project, Movie Night, Night Hike: During each Cottonwood Institute course, we will complete an Action Project to address a local environmental issue, to walk our talk, and to give back to the land. Taking what we have learned from Colorado Firecamp, we will complete projects including wildfire mitigation and reducing the fuel load and fire danger of the Upper Arkansas Valley. Our projects will center around forest thinning projects and digging protective fire lines to protect surrounding areas and communities. During the afternoons, we will continue to practice wilderness survival skills including primitive and modern fire methods, water location and procurement, and rescue techniques. We will pick a night to have a movie night to watch wildland firefighting movies and if the conditions are right we may also find time for a night hike.

Day 6 – Survival Challenge: We will break up into small groups and complete a survival challenge together to apply some of the skills we have learned throughout the week. We won’t tell you too much about this challenge ahead of time, but take comfort in the fact that you will have the support of your teammates and you will have access to your gear and supplies if you need it. The survival challenge is a fun and memorable part of your Cottonwood Institute experience and will consist of a series of survival activities and you will be rewarded after completing each task.

Day 7 – Final Celebration, Depart: During our last full day, we will have our final breakfast together, reflect on all that we have learned and accomplished during the week, and celebrate together. Participants will also set the intention to reduce their ecological footprint at home. Finally, we will pack up our gear, final clean up, and depart.

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

  • Host Organization: Colorado Firecamp
  • Location: Upper Arkansas Valley near Buena Vista, Colorado
  • Date/Price: For 2010, this course is only available for schools and community organization. If you have a group of 10 - 12 students you would like to send on this course, please call us at 303.447.1076 for a custom quote.
  • Scholarships: To find out how to receive a Cottonwood Institute Scholarship, Click Here!
  • Difficulty: Be prepared to hike a few miles at altitude, work hard completing ecological service projects that will involve hauling wood uphill and swing tools to clear debris. Again, at the Cottonwood Institute, we encourage students to work at their own pace to make the course as mild or as wild as they would like, even if it is slow and steady!
  • Average Temperatures: High 90ºF / Low 50ºF. Be prepared for any kind of weather in the mountains of Colorado.
  • Beginners welcome!
  • Recommended Books: Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire, by John MacLean.

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

  • To check out photos from the 2008 Wildland Firefighter Project, Click Here.
  • To read a Blog Post from 2008 Wildland Firefighter Project, Click Here.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS COURSE, YOU WILL:

  • Get out of the house this summer, sleep under the stars, and have an unforgettable adventure.
  • Practice essential camping and wilderness survival skills, including: water location, shelter, fire, and rescue techniques.
  • Become familiar with the fire ecology, wildland fire behavior, and firefighting skills and techniques.
  • Complete much needed Action Projects to reduce the fire danger of the Upper Arkansas Valley.
  • Explore future careers in ecology, wildland firefighting, emergency response, and environmental education.
  • Knock out high school and/or college credit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Ponchoshelter2wf1Where will we sleep? As with all Cottonwood Institute courses, we recommend that students sleep under low-tech poncho shelters, which can be set up individually or with other students to make a larger group shelter. We will spend the first day learning the necessary knots and techniques for setting up a bomber poncho shelter. Jonathan is setting up the classic diamond poncho shelter in this photo! It is ok to bring a tent on this course.

Firemitigationpilewf1Where do we go to the bathroom? This is one thing that causes the most anxiety for beginners. Take comfort in the fact that human beings have been going to the bathroom
in the woods for thousands of years. On the first day of the course, we will go through minimum impact camping considerations and techniques (yes, there are techniques and best practices!) for going to bathroom in the backcountry.

Awarenesshikeposewf1How hard is this course? This obviously depends on each individual. Expect to go on
2-3 mile day/night hikes throughout the week, to work up a sweat building natural shelters and practicing friction fire, and to work on a variety of Action Projects that can be physically demanding. We strongly encourage students to go at their own pace to make their course as mild or as wild as they feel comfortable pushing themselves.

DiaI am traveling from out of state, how should I get to Colorado? We have had students from California, Wyoming, Ohio, New York, and New Orleans. If you are traveling from out of state, you need to coordinate your travel arrangements so you fly to Denver International Airport (DIA) one day before your course starts and plan to leave the day after your course ends. You will need to arrange lodging the night before your course starts and the night your course ends. A Cottonwood Institute representative will pick you up from your hotel the morning your course starts and take you to our course start location. When you register for this course, you will receive a detailed registration packet outlining all of the travel logistics. (Photo Credit: Denver International Airport).

To register for this course, please click the Register For A Course Today! link or call us at 303.447.1076.